Three days later, Hou Shikai arrived in Juping.
The first thing Hou Shikai did when he arrived in Juping was to visit Su.
The Hou family and the Su family had a lot of business dealings, and the Su family was quite enthusiastic about Hou Shikai's visit.
Su Songbo, one of the seven elders of the Su family, received Hou Shikai.
"Meet Uncle Su."
When Hou Shikai saw Su Songbo, he bowed immediately.
Su Songbo laughed, "Nephew, there is no need to be polite. Please take a seat quickly."
"Thank you, Uncle Su."
Hou Shikai thanked him and presented a beautiful box, saying politely, "It is only a small gift, not a token of respect, but I hope you will accept it."
"My dear nephew, you are too polite!"
...
...
Su Songbo took the box and quickly ordered someone to serve tea to Hou Shi. He then asked with a smile, "How is your father these days?"
As he spoke, Su Songbo opened the box again and took a look. Inside was a piece of beautiful jade of fine quality. A rough estimate showed that it should be worth several hundred taels of silver.
Considering the relationship between the Su family and the Hou family, this gift is not expensive, but it is not light either. It is quite appropriate!
"Thank you Uncle Su for your concern. My father is doing well." Hou Shikai smiled. "A few days ago, a letter came home. My father also specifically told me to come and say hello to Uncle Su on his behalf when I pass by Juping."
"Your father is very polite."
Su Song followed up with a question and asked, "What have you been busy with lately, nephew?"
“It’s all business.”
Hou Shikai smiled casually, "By the way, Uncle Su, I heard that Fuzhou is doing something called the land tax distribution. This should have a great impact on the Su family, right?"
"Who says it's not?"
Speaking of this, Su Songbo was a little angry. "That prince only knows how to fight wars and has no idea how to govern the country. He has only been in Fuzhou for a short time, but he has already made Fuzhou a mess. In my opinion, he is probably..."
"Uncle Su, don't say that." Hou Shikai quickly stopped Su Songbo.
After being reminded by Hou Shikai, Su Songbo realized that he had said the wrong thing.
However, Su Songbo didn't care.
What he said was the truth!
That prince has no idea how to govern the world, he is just talking nonsense!
"Okay, let's not talk about that one."
Su Songbo waved his hand, "Let's talk about our own business!"
Hou Shikai smiled and took the initiative to bring the topic back on track, "To be honest, Uncle Su, I came here to borrow some money from you."
"Borrow money?"
Su Songbo was instantly unhappy, but he didn't show it.
Who would be willing to borrow money just by asking?
"right."
Hou Shikai smiled embarrassedly, "My nephew wants to borrow 100,000 taels of silver from Uncle Su. Within one month at most, my nephew will return 120,000 taels of silver to Uncle Su!"
One month?
Twenty percent interest?
Su Songbo was shocked. The interest rate was a bit outrageous!
What is Hou Shikai going to do?
Are you willing to pay such a high interest rate?
Is there any way for him to make a fortune?
"My dear nephew, the interest is negotiable."
Su Songbo smiled, "With the relationship between our two families, it's not a problem to lend you 100,000 taels of silver! But you have to tell your uncle what you are going to do with the money, right?"
“Just doing some business.”
Hou Shikai said with a smile: "If you are worried, I can find someone to guarantee it! I will keep my word and pay you back with interest within one month at the latest!"
Looking at Hou Shikai's confident look, Su Songbo became even more curious.
When it comes to business, of course he knew that Hou Shikai was using money to do business!
The key is, what kind of business can make so much money?
What kind of business could make Hou Shikai so confident that he could repay the 100,000 taels of silver with interest within a month?
"Nephew, can you tell me what kind of business you are going to start?"
Su Songbo became interested. "If this business is profitable, I would also like to take advantage of my nephew."
"this……"
Hou Shikai looked embarrassed, and after hesitating for a long time, he said sincerely: "To be honest, uncle, this business is indeed very profitable! It's not that I don't want to tell you about the business, but I promised others that this matter must be kept secret, otherwise, I may lose my head at any time."
Lose your head?
What kind of business would cost you your head?
Su Songbo was confused and curious.
Su Songbo looked at Hou Shikai with a smile, "Don't worry, I'm old enough to understand this principle! I will definitely keep it a secret for you! Moreover, I can also help you check to avoid being cheated."
"this……"
Hou Shikai was still in a dilemma and obviously unwilling to speak.
"Why, you don't even trust me?"
Su Songbo was unhappy and directly returned the gift to Hou Shikai, "If you don't even have this much trust in me, then take this gift back!"
"this……"
Hou Shikai was embarrassed and quickly explained, "It's not that I don't trust you, but..."
"Okay, no need to say more."
Su Songbo interrupted Hou Shikai unhappily, "Let's not talk about this anymore. Stay for lunch! You're here to visit, so I can't just not invite you to eat."
Seeing that the time was almost right, Hou Shikai made up his mind and said through gritted teeth: "Uncle, please keep this a secret for my nephew!"
As he spoke, Hou Shikai opened his bundle, took out a package wrapped in oil paper and handed it over.
Su Songbo looked at Hou Shikai in confusion, took the oil paper package and opened it.
When Su Songbo saw what was inside, his expression suddenly changed.
"You don't want to die?"
Su Songbo lowered his voice and scolded: "Selling illegal salt is a serious crime!"
No wonder Hou Shizhi hesitated and refused to speak!
It turned out that he was going to engage in the business of selling illegal salt!
He would never lend the money to Hou Shikai even if he was beaten to death!
If Hou Shikai was beheaded, who would he ask for money?
“No, no…”
Hou Shikai quickly shook his head, "Uncle, this is not salt!"
"Not salt?"
Su Songbo didn't believe it, "Do you think I don't even know salt?"
Hou Shikai didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "This is really not salt. Uncle, you will know after trying it."
As he spoke, Hou Shikai picked up a pinch of sugar and put it in his mouth.
Um?
Isn't it salt?
Su Songbo was full of doubts, and he also followed Hou Shikai's example and picked up a handful of sugar and put it into his mouth.
"Sweet?"
Su Songbo's eyes suddenly widened, and he looked at Hou Shikai in disbelief, "Is this... candy?"
“Yes, it’s called white sugar!”
Hou Shikai nodded and carefully wrapped the oil paper. "Uncle, don't underestimate this small amount of sugar, but this small amount is worth five to ten taels of gold!"
White sugar!
Su Songbo's eyes suddenly lit up.
The Su family is the number one family in Fuzhou. He had heard of white sugar and knew that it was very valuable and was something that was in short supply.
But he is already this old, and this is the first time he has seen white sugar!
"Where did you get this sugar?"
Su Songbo immediately asked.
"This... nephew really can't say it!"
Hou Shikai was embarrassed again, "I borrowed money from you to buy this sugar, and then transport it back to Muzhou to sell!"
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